Lock mechanism for plural drawers



April '25, 1967 E, LELAN 3,316,045

LOCK MECHANISM FOR PLURAL DRAWERS Filed Oct. 1, 1965 INVENT OR. HflEOLD E, L 51. 0ND

BY. I I

11/5 AZ OENEYS United States Patent 3,316,045 LOCK MECHANISM FOR PLURAL DRAWERS Harold E. Leland, Kettering, Ohio, assignor to H. Gerstner & Sons, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 492,228 3 Claims. (Cl. 312-220) This invention relates to a lock mechanism for plural drawers and more particularly to a lock mechanism for use in a cabinet having plural drawers and having a hinged panel effective to actuate said mechanism however, the invention is not necessarily so limited.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved lock mechanism suitable for use in cabinets having multiple drawers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock mechanism which, when released, is unobtrusive in appearance and does not interfere with the sliding action of the drawers.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawing, FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary section view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary section view analogous to FIGURE 2 illustrating the lock mechanism in its released position.

For convenience of illustration the lock mechanism of the present invention is shown as embodied in a simple two drawer cabinet The cabinet 10 includes side panels 12, a front panel 14, a base panel 15, a rear panel 17, and a hinged top or cover 16.

The cover 16 has mounted thereon a lock portion 18 supporting a pivotally mounted bail 20 adapted to engage under a complementary lock portion 19 mounted on the front panel 14. The lock portion 19 includes a key operated latch member, not shown, adapted to secure the bail 20 against release from the lock portion 19. The lock structure comprising the parts 18, 19 and 20 is a conventional lock structure forming no part of the present invention.

The front panel 14 of the cabinet 10 has a rectangular aperture 21 therein to receive drawers 22 and 22a. The drawers 22 and 2211 are of similar construction, the only significant difference being a difference in size. For convenience, the parts of these drawers are identified by the same numeric reference characters, the parts for the drawer 22a being distinguished by the suffix a.

The drawer 22 comprises a front panel 26, a rear panel (not shown) and side panels 28 (only one shown).

The front, rear and side panels form a rectangular frame projecting upwardly from a base or floor member 34 The drawer 22a similarly comprises a a rear panel 30a, and side panels 28a (only one shown) projecting upwardly from a base or floor member 34a.

The drawers 22 and 22a are mounted for sliding movement into and out of the cabinet 10 by providing horizontal runners 32 in the side panels of the cabinet 10 and complementary horizontal channels, not shown, in the outer surfaces of the side panels 28 for the drawers.

A divider 36 located in the cabinet 10 above the drawer 22 establishes a receptacle or storage well under the cover 16. Thus the cabinet 10 has three storage areas, one under the cover 16 and one in each of the drawers 22 and 22a. As previously noted, the cabinet 10 is illustrated and described in the present application merely to facilitate a description of the present invention and the front panel 26a,

3,316,045 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 structural features of the cabinet 10, apart from the lock mechanism described in the following paragraphs, form no part of the present invention.

The drawers 22 and 22a are equipped with lock devices for locking the drawers against accidental removal from the cabinet 10 in the following manner. The drawers 22 and 22a have vertical bores 40- and 4011, respectively, extending through the front panels 26 and 26a thereof. As can be noted from the location of the section line 2-2 in FIGURE 1, these bores are located slightly to the right of the center of the drawers, as viewed in FIGURE 1, however, it will also be recognized by those skilled in the art that the precise location of these bores is not critical in the present invention.

The bores 40 and 40a receive bushings 42 and 42a, respectively, at their lower ends and bushings 44 and 4411, respectively, at their upper ends, the bushings being press-fitted or otherwise fastened in the bores so as not to slide axially therein.

Iournalled in the aforesaid are lock pins 46 and 46a, respectively, slidably journalled at their opposite ends in the bushings. The lock pins 46 and 46a are surrounded by coil springs 50 and 50a, respectively, which act against ears 48 and 48a, respec tively, staked or swaged from the metal of the lock pins. The length of the coil springs 50 and 50a is such that these springs at all times exert an upward bias on the lock pins.

The spacing of the ears 48 from the upper end of each lock pin is such that when the springs 50 and 50a are unopposed, the springs bias the ears against the lowermost margins of the bushings 44 and 44a, respectively, in each drawer. The upper ends of the pins in each drawer are then flush with the upper surfaces of the bushings 44 and 44a. The overall lengths of the lock pins 50 and 50a are such that when the upper ends thereof are flush with the upper surfaces of the bushings 44 and 44a, the lower ends are flush with the lowermost surfaces of the bushings 42 and 42a. Thus, when the springs are unopposed, the lock pins fit unobtrusively within the panels 26 and 26a, and do not project outwardly therefrom.

It is apparent that when both drawers 22 and 22a are located in their innermost positions in the cabinet 10, that is with the rear ends of the side panels 28 and 28a abutting the rear panel 17 of the cabinet, the lock pins 46 and 46a are aligned coaxially. When either or both of the drawers is drawn out of the cabinet, however, the lock pins are not necessarily aligned coaxially although they remain in the same vertical plane. A vertical bore or cavity 52 extends through the front panel 14 of the cabinet 10 in coaxial alignment with the bores 40 and 40a of the drawers 22 and 22a, such alignment existing when the drawers occupy their innermost positions in the cabinet 10. The bore 52 receives an upper bushing 54 and a lower bushing 56 press fitted or otherwise fastened against axial movement in the bore 52. The bushings 54 and 56 slidably journal an actuator pin or rod 58 surrounded by a coil spring 60 acting against staked ears 62. The staked ears 62 are spaced below the upper end of the actuator pin 58 a distance exceeding the axial length of the bushing 54. Thus the upward bias of the spring 60, when unopposed, causes the uppermost end of the rod 58 to project upwardly beyond the uppermost surface of the bushing 54. This condition is best illustrated in FIGURE 3 wherein the spring 60 is unopposed. As clearly shown in FIG- URE 3, the lowermost end of the rod 58 is substantially flush with the lowermost surface of the bushing 56 when the spring 60 is unopposed, whereby the actuator pin 58 will not interfere with a sliding movement of the drawer 22 into and out of the cabinet 10.

bushings in the drawers As best observed in FIGURES 2 and 3, the cover 16 for the cabinet has a wall portion 64 which meets the upper margin of the panel 14 upon closure of the cover. The cover 16 is hinged to the back panel 17 of the cabinet 10 by conventional hinge means not shown.

Upon closure of the cover 16 so as to permit the bail 20 to slide under the lock portion 19, the wall 64 of the cover 16 displaces the uppermost end of the actuator rod 58 downwardly. Correspondingly, upon release of the cover 16 as by disengaging the bail 20 from the lock portion 19, the force of the spring 60, combined with the forces of the springs 50 and 50a, is directed against the cover 16.

When the cover 16 is forced downwardly so as to permit the bail 20 to engage the lock portion 19, the downward movement impressed upon the actuator rod 58 is transmitted to the lock pin 50 in the drawer 22 and, through the lock pin 50, is transmitted to the lock pin 50a in the drawer 22a. Clearance for downward movement of the lock pin 50a is provided by a bushing 66 recessed in a suitable cavity or bore in the base panel for the cabinet 10 and aligned coaxially with the bore 52 in the panel 14.

Obviously, when the cover 16 is closed and the bail latched under the lock portion 19, the actuator rod 58 functions to positively lock the drawer 22 against removal. At the same time, the lock pin 46a in the drawer 22a acts in the bushing 66 to positively lock the drawer 22a from removal. When, on the other hand, the cover 16 is released by disengagement of the bail 20 from the lock portion 19, the several springs 60, 50 and 50a are unopposed except by the weight of the cover 16. In the construction of this device, it is preferred to preselect the springs 60, 50 and 50a so that their combined upward thrust on the rod 58 and locking pins 46 and 46a is adequate to lift the cover 16 against its own weight with the result that the release of the cover 16 by disengagement of bail 20 from the lock portion 19 results in an automatic lifting of the lid 16. With such lifting of the lid 16, the drawers 22 and 22a are automatically freed for withdrawal from cabinet 10 without further movement of the cover 16.

It will be apparent that the locking action established by entry of the actuator rod 58 into the bore 40 of drawer 22 is sufiicient to lock both drawers in the cabinet 10. Thus, entry of the rod 40a into the bushing 66 merely duplicates the locking function. Those skilled in the art will quickly recognize, therefore, that any mechanism for lowering the rod 46 against the rod 46a will lock both drawers and any such mechanism is deemed within the purview of this invention. Similarly, shortening of the rod 46a so as to eliminate the need for the bushing 66 and its function is considered within the purview of this invention.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the locking mechanism of the present invention can be employed, without modification in cabinets requiring many more drawers than the two shown. A convenience will also be recognized in employing a full sized locking pin in each cabinet drawer and retaining the bushing 66 or its equivalent. Thus, in cabinets having plural drawers of equal dimensions, all drawers are interchangeable without impairment of the locking function.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that a lock mechanism has been devised which, upon delivery of a suitable downward force to the actuator rod 58, is effective to lock plural drawers in a cabinet and which, by release of such downward force, is effective to automatically release the plural drawers. Upon such release it is further apparent that the lock mechanism assembled in the drawers is unobtrusive, the only significant evidence of the presence of a lock mechanism resulting from the upwardly projecting end of the actuator rod 58.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a case having a hinged cover member pivotal between open and closed positions, a panel member one margin of which meets a wall portion of said cover member in the closed position of said cover member, and a plurality of drawers mounted adjacently for sliding movement through an aperture disposed in said panel member and spaced from said one margin, said adjacent drawers having axially alignable locking pins displaceable axially, one pin against the other, to lock said drawers one to the other, the improvement wherein said panel member has a bore therein communicating between said aperture and said one margin, an actuator rod disposed in said bore and having a length exceeding the length of said bore, bias means coacting between said rod and said panel member biasing said rod toward said one margin, limit means coacting between said panel member and said rod to limit the movement of one end of said rod through said one margin and support said actuator rod with its opposite end adjacent said aperture, said cover member, upon being pivoted to said closed position, engaging said one end of said actuator rod to move said actuator rod against the bias of said bias means and thereby cause said opposite end of said actuator rod to enter said aperture said drawers being slidable to positions wherein the pins in said drawers are aligned axially with said actuator rod and the pin in one of said drawers is adjacent said opposite end of said actuator rod, whereupon closure of said cover member will cause said actuator rod to enter said one drawer and displace the pin therein into the next adjacent drawer thereby locking said drawers to said panel member.

2. A case having a cover member pivotal between open and closed positions, said case having a panel member one margin of which meets a wall portion of said cover member in said closed position, said panel member having an aperture therein spaced from said one margin, first and second drawers, means on said case supporting said drawers in adjacent relation in said aperture for sliding movement into and out of said case through said aperture, said panel member having a first bore therein communicating between said aperture and said margin and defining a first axis an actuator rod disposed in said first bore and having a length exceeding the length of said first bore, first bias means coacting between said actuator rod and said panel member to bias said actuator rod away from said aperture in the direction of said one margin, first limit means coacting between said panel member and said actuator rod to limit the movement of said actuator rod in the direction of said one margin, said first limit means holding said actuator rod against the bias of said first bias means at a position of said actuator rod wherein one end of said actuator rod projects outwardly of said one margin of said panel member and the other end of said actuator rod substantially abuts the periphery of said aperture, each said drawer having a frame and a second bore extending through said frame parallel to said first axis, a pin for each drawer received in the second bore of each drawer each pin having the length of the second bore receiving said pin, second bias means for each said drawer coacting between the frame of said drawer and the pin received therein to bias said pin toward said actuator rod, second limit means for each said drawer limiting the movement of said pin in said drawer toward said actuator rod and cooperating with said second bias means of each said drawer to normally confine each said pin within each said drawer whereby said drawers may slide freely through said aperture, said drawers being slidable to positions wherein said pins therein are aligned one with the other and with said actuator rod whereupon closure of said cover member References Cited by the Examiner with force suflicient to overcome said first and second bias UNITED STATES P ATENTS means causes said wall portion of said drawer to engage and move said actuator rod and said actuator rod to move 2 33 Stoefiier 212 219 said pins one against the other whereby said actuator rod 5 Levensten 12*222 cooperates with said pins to lock said drawers in said case. FOREIGN PATENTS 3. The case according to claim 2 including means co- 240,506 12/1945 Switzerland acting between said cover member and said panel member to lock said cover member in said closed position. CHANCELLOR E, HARRIS, Primary Examiner, 

1. IN A CASE HAVING A HINGED COVER MEMBER PIVOTAL BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, A PANEL MEMBER ONE MARGIN OF WHICH MEETS A WALL PORTION OF SAID COVER MEMBER IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF SAID COVER MEMBER, AND A PLURALITY OF DRAWERS MOUNTED ADJACENTLY FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT THROUGH AN APERTURE DISPOSED IN SAID PANEL MEMBER AND SPACED FROM SAID ONE MARGIN, SAID ADJACENT DRAWERS HAVING AXIALLY ALIGNABLE LOCKING PINS DISPLACEABLE AXIALLY, ONE PIN AGAINST THE OTHER, TO LOCK SAID DRAWERS ONE TO THE OTHER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID PANEL MEMBER HAS A BORE THEREIN COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID APERTURE AND SAID ONE MARGIN, AN ACTUATOR ROD DISPOSED IN SAID BORE AND HAVING A LENGTH EXCEEDING THE LENGTH OF SAID BORE, BIAS MEANS COACTING BETWEEN SAID ROD AND SAID PANEL MEMBER BIASING SAID ROD TOWARD SAID ONE MARGIN, LIMIT MEANS COACTING BETWEEN SAID PANEL MEMBER AND SAID ROD TO LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF ONE END OF SAID ROD THROUGH SAID ONE MARGIN AND SUPPORT SAID ACTUATOR ROD WITH ITS OPPOSITE END ADJACENT SAID APERTURE, SAID COVER MEMBER, UPON BEING 